Chancellor on campus

By David Sorensen

Retired general Rick Hillier made his first public appearance on
the St. John’s campus since being named chancellor by Premier
Danny Williams in June.
Gen. Hillier attended the employee barbecue on Aug. 28, toured the
Marine Institute and met university officials, and spent a second
day familiarizing himself with a campus that has changed radically
since his student days in the 1970s.

“This is not the same university that I attended,” he
said in an interview with the Gazette. “The difference
between 1972-1975 when I was here and now is phenomenal and
it’s all incredibly positive.”

The Campbellton, Newfoundland, native said he was eager to face new
challenges after reaching the pinnacle of his military career. He
didn’t expect the first assignment to be at Memorial.

“I failed retirement,” he joked. “Actually, my
intent was never to retire, my intent was to leave the Canadian
Armed Forces at what I perceived was the right time.”

After stepping down as Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff on
July 2, Gen. Hillier spent some time travelling with his wife
Joyce, also a Memorial grad, including a visit to the beaches of
Normandy that profoundly moved this 35-year military man.

When Premier Williams called, Gen. Hillier said he was intrigued
with the prospect of the chancellor’s role. After a
discussion with his wife, he decided that it was a good fit.

“It is a chance to put our shoulder behind what’s good
about the university and what’s good about the
university’s part in our province and our province’s
part in Canada and Canada’s part in the world.

“And having been here the last couple of days, we’re
absolutely convinced that that was the right decision. We’re
delighted to be here.”

He said walking away from the job as Canada’s top soldier was
an easy choice – leaving behind his fellow soldiers was
another story.

“It wasn’t difficult to walk away from the job as chief
of defence staff,” he said. “That appointment was a
natural progression and I made the decision to leave at this time
because I thought the reasons were all there to leave. Two months
after the fact, I’m absolutely convinced I made the right
decision.

“Having said that, it was difficult to walk away from my
family – the men and women in uniform and their families. I
was a soldier, I’ll remain a soldier until the day I die and
the fact that I’m not wearing a uniform is irrelevant. My
heart rests with them and I will continue to support
them.”

In fact, Gen. Hillier sees his appointment as chancellor of
Memorial University as part of his commitment to the men and women
of the military.

“One of the ways (I can support them) is by accepting this
appointment as chancellor of Memorial University, established for
what? To make sure that their sacrifice will be remembered in
education and the development of our province.”

Gen. Hillier is no stranger to Memorial, although he hasn’t
been to the campuses in St. John’s or Corner Brook for some
time. He has been involved with Affinity events for the past four
or five years and his conversations with alumni and his recent
visit to the St. John’s campus and the province reinforced
the importance of the university. He said there were three things
that stood out.

“I had not realized how transformed Newfoundland and Labrador
is as a province. Secondly, (I had not realized) what an important
part in that transformation Memorial plays. But thirdly, what a
national and international footprint this university has and what
an incredible international reputation it has.

“It’s been exciting to get back here. I’ve
learned a lot, but I’ve only scratched the surface. I remain
in awe of the university, of the passion that people here have for
the university, for what they are doing here, and learning and
teaching and developing and being a part of Newfoundland and
Labrador and part of our place in Canada.”

On July 2, Gen. Hillier handed over his appointment as
Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff. His appointment as
chancellor was effective July 3. A formal installation of the new
chancellor will be held during Memorial’s fall convocation in
October. The chancellor is a member of the university’s Board
of Regents and the Senate and serves as chairman of convocation.
All degrees are conferred by the chancellor.

In making the announcement, Premier Williams praised the
general’s commitment to the province.

“We are honoured that Gen. Hillier has accepted this
appointment to serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, in
particular our youth,” said Premier Williams. “His
charisma, intelligence and outstanding ability to serve others will
be among some of the outstanding traits he will bring to this role.
His service to our country has been nothing short of extraordinary
and we wish he and his family well as they enter this new phase of
this life.”

Gen. Rick Hillier

General Rick Hillier was born in Campbellton, Notre Dame Bay. He
enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1973 through the Regular Officer
Training Plan program, and graduated from Memorial University in
1975 with a bachelor
of science degree.

He joined his first regiment, the 8th Canadian Hussars, and served
with and later commanded the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Canada
and Germany.

Throughout his more than 30-year military career, he commanded
troops within Canada, Europe, Asia and the United States, from the
platoon to the multi-national formation level. He also worked as
staff officer in several
headquarters, including at the strategic level
in Ottawa.

Gen. Hillier was appointed in 1998 as the first Canadian Deputy
Commanding General of III Corps, U.S. Army in Fort Hood, Texas. Two
years later he took command of NATO’s Stabilization
Force’s Multinational Division in
Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He was appointed as commander of the Army in May 2003 and in
October that year was selected as the commander of the NATO-led
International Security Assistance Force in
Kabul, Afghanistan.

In February, 2005, Gen. Hillier was promoted to the rank of Chief
of the Defence Staff, the highest ranking position in the Canadian
Forces. On April 15 this year, he announced he would retire from
that position in July.